Background: Iliotibial band tightness is a common overuse injury frequently observed in runners, cyclists, and new recruits to the armed forces. ITB is also called Maissiat’s band or iliotibial tract that crosses more than one joint and overlaps without any discontinuity. Painful lateral knee condition due to overuse, friction, repetitive flexion and extension at knee joint and pressure bursitis of lateral knee where posterior edge of iliotibial band (fascia) rubs against lateral femoral condyle. Ober’s test is used to assess iliotibial band in patients with painful conditions of lower extremity. Patient is positioned in side lying with unaffected leg on bottom and examiner standing behind the patient. Examiner placed the stabilizing hand on upper iliac crest. Then he abducted upper leg maximally, extended the thigh and lowered the limb toward the leg. The test is positive if patient is unable to adduct leg in neutral position. Objective: The main objective of this study was to calculate the prevalence of iliotibial band tightness in cyclists. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out involving cyclists. Data was collected from general population of Gujranwala and Gujrat. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used and total of 266 male and female were evaluated. Cyclists for more than 6 months, cyclists of age 18 to 60 years and who ride on daily basis for at least 30 minutes were included in this study. Lower limb deformity (genu varum, genu valgum), knee injuries (ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL) reported within last 6 months, pelvic fracture reported within last 3 months and leg length discrepancy and people go to gym for last 1 month were excluded from the study. A Performa used to get demographic data including name, age, gender, weight and height. Their BMI was calculated. Tool (Obers Test) was used to check the iliotibial band tightness in cyclists. The reliability of this tool was good (Ober test (ICC=0.94). Results: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving cyclists and total of 266 males were evaluated. Their mean age was 37.5 (SD = 13.0) and mean BMI was 2.29 (SD = 0.74). Out of 266 participants 60(22.56%) participants showed positive results for Ober’s test while 206(77.44%) participants showed negative results for Ober’s test with p-value <0.001. Mean of Ober’s test for iliotibial band tightness was 1.22 (SD = 0.41). Out of 60 cyclists with positive Ober’s test 20(7.52%) had iliotibial band tightness in left leg, 28(10.53%) had iliotibial band tightness in right leg and 12(4.51%) had iliotibial band tightness in both legs. Results also showed that the iliotibial band tightness was 8.27 times more prevalent in cyclists with BMI ranged between 25-29.9(overweight) compared to those with normal BMI. Pearson’s value was 0.126 and p-value was <0.001 which demonstrate that Ober’s test for iliotibial band tightness had a positive and statistically significant association with BMI of participants respectively. Conclusion: Cycling for prolong period of time plays a substantial role in the development of ITB tightness. According to the findings of this study cyclists who were overweight have more chances of developing iliotibial band tightness than those who had normal BMI. So there was positive and statistically significant association between BMI and Ober’s test for iliotibial band tightness.

Body mass index, Iliotibial band tightness, Cyclists, Iliotibial band friction syndrome.